Instead of using your usual study methods (and getting the same results you always get, for better or worse) this is the year to level up. There are plenty of great ways to review and retain material, but to use them, you have to give up your bad habits first. Here’s what to avoid and what to prioritize instead.
Don’t just rewrite your work
Rewriting is fine if you’re refining and condensing your material (and you should be rewriting your notes immediately after class for better retention), but it’s not the best strategy for remembering information if you’re simply recopying everything you’ve already written over and over.
The writing center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests condensing notes to the point that they only include key concepts. After or instead of that, try using active recall, a method that requires you to dig information out of your short-term memory to help that information stick around longer. You can use flashcards (ideally by mastering the Leitner method), summarize your chapters and notes out loud (otherwise known as blurting), or take a practice quiz—and it’ll be more helpful than basic rewriting. If you’re low on time or motivation, you can generate a custom practice quiz using Google’s NotebookLM. That’s what I’ve been doing while I’ve been reviewing for an upcoming certification exam. You just upload your own materials and the software will create flashcards and quizzes for you.
Don’t take linear notes
Writing down what you hear during a lecture is important, but doing it in a productive and beneficial way is even better. And while this might seem like it’s not really “studying,” remember that it’s the first big step toward overall retention. Just jotting down key words and phrases or, worse, every single word, won’t help you identify main concepts or make connections between them. Instead, use a note-taking method like outlining or the Cornell method to actively listen and record the most pertinent information as you go. And don’t forget to revise them right away after class!
The same goes for when you’re reading materials on your own. Use a note-taking method designed to enhance your critical reading skills, like SQ3R or KWL, so you can take notes that make sense and serve the bigger purpose of helping you retain what you’re learning.
Don’t cram
Cramming is an inevitable part of the school experience at some point or another, but it’s not an ideal way to study every single time you have a test. In fact, scholars and researchers have suggested it may even backfire, causing you to remember less for your big test. Instead, schedule your studying out across multiple days. Use the distributed practice technique to create the perfect schedule for your studying based on when your next test is. It takes more discipline, but it will help you remember more material for longer periods of time, which makes it ideal for cumulative finals as well as regular old quizzes.
Don’t work nonstop
Take breaks when you study, even if you’re cramming. A key element of distributed practice is breaking the study sessions into chunks. Seriously, it’s called chunking and it’s a real study technique. You’re more productive when you take breaks, so try using the Pomodoro method to schedule those breaks consistently. Pomodoro is a method that calls on you to work for 25 minutes, take a five minute break, and get back to work four times before taking a bigger break.
You can mess around with methods that work for you, too. For instance, try an app to help you stay focused and schedule your Pomodoro sessions. You can also fiddle with the timing of your sessions. Maybe longer work and break segments work for you or you need shorter time working. Pomodoro adaptations are abundant, so take some time to figure out what you prefer.
Avoid being too granular
If you are really locked in on your content and start obsessing over every detail, you’re going to miss the forest for the trees. The University of British Columbia warns its students against over-highlighting, and for good reason: When you make everything a key point, you don’t remember the pieces of information that really are. There are benefits to color-coding your texts and notes, but only if you do it intentionally and carefully—and colorful highlights aren’t the only way this can become problematic.
Consider the Pareto principle, which says that 80% of your results come from 20% of your effort. Use one of the reading techniques I mentioned—SQ3R or KWL—to break down your content until you have a good idea of the most crucial elements, then study from there. You don’t need to know every single definition of every single word, but you’ll need to know how the course material connects so you understand what it’s all about. This is also where taking those breaks comes in. If you go too hard for too long, you’ll get a little too worked up. Break up the chapter, break up your time, and don’t get over-stressed to the point of losing the plot.
If you’re worried you’re not grasping the overall concepts, try using the Feynman method to see how you’re doing. It involves teaching the material to someone who is unfamiliar with it, relying on the idea that if you can teach something, then you understand it. Do this with a friend or a parent or even with ChatGPT. If you struggle explaining it—like if you’ve spent too much time trying to memorize every tiny detail but can’t relay how they all work together big-picture—head back to the drawing board and break the material down more.